A beautiful day. After reading a considerable extract from Virgil 278I went to the Office and was engaged as usual in reading Newspapers and writing Journal, with Accounts. This took up much time, which together with a walk to the Athenaeum, a short lounge and temptation at the sale of Mr. Eliot’s books,1 and a walk with Mr. Peabody consumed the rest of my time.

Afternoon, I went to Quincy. Isaac Hull accompanying me. Found Mills the Painter at work busily and he informed me that he must have Vezey with him so I went up immediately for Vezey. Called in on the way to see Mr. Brigham and make some inquiry about the Canal. I found this year it paid for two years upon it’s Notes, so that I was quite satisfied. On the whole the present prospect of things is tolerably favourable. I hope to be able this year to bring up a considerable arrear into which my father’s affairs have fallen. But it is impossible to say how this will be, until I can see through the next Month. I gave orders about the grounds and the work to be done about the House — Returning home by seven.

We had the last family assemblage for the Season this year at our house. All present but P. C. Brooks Jr. and his Wife. It was on the whole pleasant, although I felt heated and tired. They all went at ten and I afterwards finished the Guardian, being the third in the series of Essayists.

A very lovely day. I went to the Office after making some progress in the reading of Virgil though not so much as I wished. I did hope to finish Virgil this week. My day was somewhat wasted. The weather was so fine I could not make up my mind to remaining at the Office. Received an urgent letter from my father inviting my Wife and myself to spend the Summer with them. I suppose I must accede to it. If it was not for the inconvenience that it puts us to I should like it very much.1 Spent an hour with Mr. Davis in which we had very pleasant literary Conversation. His mind is unusually cultivated. Took a walk, but the heat of the Sun was absolutely oppressive.

Afternoon. Read as usual but found my Spanish uncommonly hard. My only purchase yesterday was of a copy of Vasari’s Works which I consider a great bargain.2 But the consumption of money in these cases is quite prodigious.

Evening quiet at home. I read a little of the introduction to the first 279volume of Vasari. My Wife was out. Afterwards, I was interested in the account of the disastrous expedition to Russia in 1812. And the Rambler.